Pacesetters Malaysia

Welcome to the Malaysian Sports portal. Pacesetters.com.my is an ideal place to stay connected with your friends and families. This is where you can create a community of the people close to you, the people you want to know and those that you cannot contact with all the time.

You will find that this is the perfect avenue for you to stay in touch without having to go out all the time. All you need is an account and you can create your profile straight away.

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Tell everyone who you are and what your interest are and you will find that there are actually a lot of people out there who share the same sports interest as you do like cycling and swimming or even yoga club. In fact there are many out there who are very much like you and would like to be your friend.

You can locate people you have lost contact with and keep updated with what is going on in their lives. This is where you can update your blogs, post images, videos and sounds as you like and share them among your network of family and friends. On top of that, you can also check out what is going on with each other while enjoy running games that are provided here.

Yoga Tips & Tricks

Yoga is one of the most beneficial exercises you can indulge in for health and general wellbeing. Like any other places in the world, Yoga is one of the most popular practices in Malaysia as well. You would have seen Malaysians from all walks of life coming together in small groups to enjoy yoga especially in fitness centres, open-air gardens and even yoga centres.

Starting Yoga in Malaysia

Malaysia is home to at least more than 80 types of Yoga practices. If you are planning to start Yoga, there are some factors that you must consider.

Breathing – The first thing you must do is to learn to regulate your breathing. This is one of the most important features of Yoga which must be observed when you are holding your posture. Learn to inhale and exhale through your nose and into your belly areas before venturing into the more advance stages.

Meditation – The best way to start is to sit in a comfortable position. Meditation in Yoga is different from those you learn in a spiritual sense. Once you have sat in your most comfortable position, take some time to focus into your meditation rounds.

Postures – Once you have done that, try to venture into a basic posture. There are many types of basic postures available. You can try with cobra, child, cat, dog, forward bend and such. Once you have mastered them, try something harder.

Clothing – There are apparels that are designed mainly for Yoga. It would be good to have them but they are not a necessity if you are starting out. The basic idea here is to wear comfortable clothing. Avoid cotton clothes as they do not have proper ventilation.

Place – If you are serious about starting Yoga, the best place to start is at home. Begin with the breathing and meditation stages at home. Find a location which is undisturbed and isolated from noise. Use a clean mat and then start practicing there. Once you have the system going, you can look for more advanced practices and continue from there.

Types – There are hundreds of different Yoga practices available in Malaysia. This includes the likes of Tantra, Hatha, Zen, Sivananda, Raja Yoga while Hot Yoga has been catching up a lot in recent years.

Yoga Centres in Malaysia

There are hundreds of Yoga Centres located across Malaysia. Whether you are in the large cities like Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Penang or the smaller ones like Ipoh or Miri, you can find Yoga Centres providing all types of services. Yoga classes are usually held at fitness centres or gymnasiums while you could find dedicated Yoga clubs as well.

In Selangor, there are places like Yogasana Stuido, the Yoga Tree Studio and Surya Yoga that provide a wide range of Yoga classes. If you are in Kuala Lumpur, you might find the likes of Hot Yo Studio or mYoga which are quite popular ones. Meanwhile, there are Yoga centres in other states as well that provide specific and generic Yoga styles.

The Inner Peach Yoga Circle Penang has a variety of Yoga classes like Kundalini and Hatha while Nirmaya Yoga and Yoga Club are popular ones in Penang.

Swimming Guide

Swimming is a sport that requires very minimal investment. In Malaysia, swimming is a great sport because we have some of the best weathers around. With hot humid weather throughout the year with occasional rainfall, nothing beats dipping into the swimming pool, especially on a hot day.

Best Advice for Swimming in Malaysia

If you are planning to go into this sport, there are some things you need to be aware of. Here are some tips.

Technique – Swimming is not just dipping into the pool and paddle away! You need to get the techniques right. Start with breaststroke and then learn the others. Check out the correct technique in YouTube through tutorials or engage a swimming instructor. The reason for this is so that you do not waste your time during the workout.

Gear – As you would know, swimming gear is among the cheapest. All you need is a swimsuit, swimming goggles and you are ready. Invest into a good set of gear and it can last you for a year or two.

Safety – The swimming pool can be dangerous if you are not aware of your surroundings. Whether you are an expert swimmer or a beginner, always stay safe. Depending on which pool you head out to, see if there are safety equipment or a lifeguard on duty. You’d never know when you can suffer a cramp in the deeper ends.

Pools – There are all types of pools available, all of which come in different depths and widths. If you are uncomfortable about the deeper ends, avoid them altogether.

Laps – In swimming, you are practically doing laps. Start with short distances and then increase them slowly. If you are short of breath, take the sides of the pools instead.

Where to Swim in Malaysia

Malaysia has some of the best swimming pools around. The most common ones would be to head out to public swimming pools. Chin Woo Stadium, the National Aquatic Centre, Kompleks Sukan Bangsar, and the Kompleks Sukan Kelana Jaya are among the popular ones you can find in the Klang Valley.

Besides that, you can go swimming at most fitness centres and condominiums. Most private, high-rise residences usually come with a clubhouse with a swimming pool. They are the best places to start if you are staying in these locations.

If you are around the eastern or western coasts of Peninsular Malaysia, swimming by the seaside can be quite exciting. However, you must be extra careful and vigilant when it comes to open sea swimming as undercurrents can be quite dangerous.

Hiking in Malaysia

Hiking is a great outdoor activity if you are one who likes nature and fitness. As a tropical country, Malaysia is one of the best places to enjoy this sport because you get to enjoy the weather, the views and stay healthy at the same time. Below are some very important tips.

Safety – This is the most important factor to consider. Always tell someone where you are going before heading out to the hiking trails. Bring safety equipment like a pen-knife or a GPS located with you.

Clothing – Appropriate clothing is very crucial. Bring extra clothing and always travel light. A rain-coat will be useful especially if you are hiking around the year-end when rainfall is most likely.

First-Aid – Unlike other sports, cuts and bruises are very common in hiking. Basic first-aid equipment would be very useful.

Where to Hike in Malaysia

There are a lot of designated hiking areas around Malaysia. Cameron Highlands have some of the most scenic and beautiful trails while you can find several trails in Fraser’s Hill and Penang as well. in The Klang Valley, hikers like to go to the hills in Cheras, Amapng, Sri Hartamas, Taman Tun Dr Ismal, Bukit Gasing and Puchong to enjoy this activity.

Top 10 Hiking Trails in Malaysia

Cameron Highlands – There are several hiking trails in Cameron Highlands. Nothing beats enjoying the cool weather and perhaps spotting the Rafflesia here while making your way up the mountains. There are trails for both beginners and experts that lead to the waterfalls.

Penang Hill – This might be a bit more challenging as it takes about 5 hours to finish. The trail is known to be quite steep which makes it more ideal for seasoned hikers.

Bukit Tabur – This is one of the very popular trails in the Klang Valley. Known to some as Bukit Hangus, it can be seen from the Middle Ring Road 2 in Kuala Lumpur. It is part of the Klang Gates Quartz Ridge that houses the Klang Gates Dam and the Gombak Nature Reserve.

Gunung Ledang – Known to be one of the hardest trails in Malaysia. If you are experienced and very fit, getting to the top takes about 6 to 7 hours. Some come here with camping gears as it might take a few days if you take your time.

Gunung Kinabalu – Perhaps one of the most popular hiking trails in Malaysia. The 2015 earthquake has changed the hiking trail tremendously but the way up to the peak still provides the thrill and adventure nonetheless.

Bukit Saga – This is a very popular hiking trail in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. Basically, there are a few trails available here which can get you to the waterfalls and takes about 3 hours to complete.

Monkey Beach – Located in Penang National Park, it is one of the most beautiful locations in Malaysia. One way will take about 3 hours while there is a campsite nearby the hiking trail.

Gunung Angsi – In all of Malaysia, Gunung Angsi is perhaps the easiest. Located in Negeri Semilan, it takes slightly less than 2 hours to reach the top.

Bukit Chenuang – Located around the Ampang and Hulu Kelang area, it is not far from the Kuala Lumpur city centre. It can take about 3 to 4 hours to reach the top.

Pine Tree Trail – Located in Fraser’s Hill, this is one of the most scenic places to hike. Some routes have stairways while you will come across a rope-equipped route as well. It takes about 2 to 3 hours to hike up the hill but the experience is simply breath-taking.

Running Tips

There has been a running craze in Malaysia in recent years. More and more Malaysians are joining marathons and runs across the country as people become more health-conscious. This is probably because Malaysia has one of the most perfect places to run with the best weather and environments. Besides that, unlike other sports, running requires very little investment.

If you have seen runners ‘do their thing’ in the mornings or evenings and have been thinking about joining this sport, here are some of the best tips to start.

Your best Running Guide in Malaysia

Start slow – There is no reason whatsoever to start with a bang. Like any other sport, you need to get a taster before investing more time and money. Start with short runs around your residential area or the gardens. See if this is what you like. Then, slowly increase frequency and distance.

Gear – This is the same with any other sporting activities. Having the right gear is a good start but you need not have to go all out to buy the most expensive pair of running shoes or clothes. Invest in a standard running shoes (or any sporting shoes will do). Then, if you decide to do this rigorously, then buy a more expensive pair and keep this as a spare.

Support – Running alone can be quite boring and even risky. Try to find a group who can give you the encouragement and support you need. This is usually done with a group of friends or family. Apart from that, you can always join the running groups that comes out each week.

Clothing – Light clothing would be best used. Avoid wearing cotton t-shirts or shorts because you are bound to sweat a lot and cotton apparel tends to get really drenched.

Belongings – Bring water when you run but never carry too much personal belongings. Invest in a basic phone that can play music (or radio) for emergency purposes. Never bring too much money with you.

Where to run in Malaysia?

The best places to go for short runs would be the gardens near to your residential areas. On weekends, you could go for longer runs at places like Lake Gardens, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, the Botanical Gardens and such.

Malaysia has some of the top marathons like the Standard Chartered KL Marathon, the Penang Bridge International Marathon, the Colour Run Malaysia, the KL Tower International Towerthon Challenge and many more.

Once you have built your fitness and confidence, start with the 10km races. You might not want to go for the win yet but to gain more experience. After that, work your way up to the 21km and 42s.

Cycling Tips

Cycling is not merely buying a bicycle and then pedalling away. It could be just something that simple but if you are serious about fitness with this sport, you might want to consider something more. Here are some of the best tips to get you started.

The Best Cycling Tips

Safety First

– Across Malaysia, cycling can be both very safe and dangerous. If you are not around the urban cities or towns, then it is extremely safe because you can practically cycle anywhere. On the other hand, cycling in the cities or towns can be quite challenging.

Cycling Gear

– If you are going for long cycles, then ensure you have the appropriate gear. Headlights, extra tubes, helmet and reflective clothing. Those are the most important ones. Even if you are not going for long, they might come in handy.

Defensive skill in Cycling

– Like driving, you need to practice defensive cycling as well. A lot of accidents occur not because of the driver but by someone else. Cycling can be meditative where your mind can drift after a while. Always keep a watch out for reckless drivers on the road. Always be extra vigilant.

Safety Side

– You should be cycling on the left side of the road as per other vehicles. NEVER ride against an oncoming traffic as the headlights might cause disturbances and then accidents could occur.

Safety Lights

– The best thing to do is to invest into a high-powered headlights for your bicycle both for the front and the rear.

Cycling Groups

– There are a lot of cycling groups in Malaysia that go for trips during weekends. Take some time to join these groups as it helps to build your confidence before heading out on your own.

Gradually progress

– If you are a beginner, do not be too gung-ho. Start slow and then work your way up. You can go with the 2/2 rule (2 minutes hard/ 2 minutes easy) and then increase the exercise. After that, you can look into increasing the pace or go for slopes.

Where to Cycle in Malaysia?

A lot of towns and cities around Malaysia are quite bicycle-friendly. Look for bike lanes or you can go to the gardens and other designated areas.

In the Klang Valley, you can practically cycle around the city centre during the KL Car-Free weekends. Otherwise, you can head up to the Kepong Metropolitan Park, the Desa Parkcity Central Park, Forest Research Institute of Malaysia or FRIM, in and around Putrajaya, Lake Gardens and at Titiwangsa, among others.